Solução tecnológica para a redução do teor de água presente no diesel distribuído no Amazonas

Abstract

The diesel B S10, with 10 parts per million (ppm) of sulfur, and B S500, with 500 ppm of sulfur, distributed to dealer stations and consumed in the country is currently composed of 12% biodiesel, a percentage that is responsible for the decrease of sulfur emitted into the atmosphere, given that it does not have such a contaminant in its composition. The biodiesel transported to Manaus has a considerable increase in water content, due to its own physical-chemical characteristics, due to the distance covered, of approximately 2500 km, and the specific weathering of the “super humid” Amazon region. The water content in biodiesel sold in the region is above the limit specified by the National Agency for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP), whose value is 350 mg/kg, which impacts differences in the specifications of the fuels sold, in addition to providing extremely harmful biological and physical-chemical degradation effects to the engines of end-consumer vehicles. Thus, an assessment was made of quality problems caused by issues of climate differences in other regions of the country, which are mediated by specific corrections in the resolutions. The data obtained through analysis of mapping the quality of biodiesel and road diesel used in the state of Amazonas demonstrate the need to seek solutions for the high water content and oxidative stability. The quality of biodiesel and road diesel distributed by a distributor in Manaus was assessed, carried out through practical operational application through a filter prototype that used filter elements produced on the national market. The studies were carried out considering the percentage of 12% of biodiesel applied to diesel according to the standard in force at the time. The collection of technical information served to develop a filter for a biodiesel tank, considering the physical-chemical parameters and water content in the stored biodiesel. Tests were carried out on the prototype with two water absorption and retention filter elements, with the test carried out in a cascade, without altering the transfer dynamics of the distribution base ducts. Tests with biodiesel samples in the prototype showed water retention results of up to 12% in filter element 1 and up to 34% in filter element 2. These data could be used to develop a filter with filter element for the tanks of fuel distributors located in the northern region of the country, eliminating or minimizing the specific problem of biodiesel and improving quality, in order to exempt distributors from penalties by the ANP. Due to the similarity of climate, it is inferred that the results can be considered for the entire northern region, as the logistics steps and other factors that can influence the level of water content resulting from the addition of biodiesel to commercialized diesel are present in respective states.